Building Resilient PHC Systems: The Untapped Potential of Faith-Based Providers

Primary Health Care (PHC) is the frontline of health systems, ensuring people access essential services early, meeting needs before health problems become serious or life-threatening. Around the world, faith-based health providers are indispensable partners in delivering PHC, particularly in underserved communities.

Christian organizations helped formulate our modern primary health framework, but some of the original focus on blending community health promotion with facility-based services was lost and governments and international partners overlook the contribution of the faith sector in PHC services. This limits effective collaboration and integration into national and global health strategies.

To help understand and address this gap, CCIH (in partnership with Jhpiego) released two new reports in 2025 that were developed with USAID support:

• Part 1: Global Landscape – Analyzes how faith-based healthcare facilities and organizations contribute to PHC around the world
• Part 2: Uganda Case Study – A deep dive into the Ugandan context and what it reveals about the role of faith-based health facilities and organizations in national PHC systems

Together, these reports explore two central questions:

1. How are faith-based healthcare facilities and organizations (FBHFOs) strengthening PHC systems?
2. What can be done to improve inclusive planning and coordination with FBHFOs to advance national health goals?

Join us to discuss the findings, hear from contributors, and explore practical steps to enhance collaboration for more resilient, accessible health systems.

Featuring:

• Allison Ruark, Consultant, Lead Researcher and Author of the Global PHC Study
• Jannet Opio, Consultant, Lead Researcher and Author of the Uganda Intensive Study

Moderated by: Doug Fountain, CCIH Executive Director